Photographic-shutter-tripping mechanism.



W, SYKES.

PHOTOGRAPH@ SHUTTER TRIPPING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1912.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Wina/Me g, .Mago Q THE NORRIS PETERS cn., pHoro LzTHo WASHINGTON D i* 'NlTED STATES WILLIAM SYKES, OIE" BOCKFGRD, ELLNOIS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-SHUTTEE-IRIPFING MECHANIS.

Application filed. May 20, 1912-.

T0 all '1o/icm t may concern:

Be it lnioivn that l, VILMAM Svnns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city ot Rockford, county of lil/vinnebago, and State of illinois, have invented .certain nenY and useful Improvements in Photographic Shutter T ripping Mechanism, ot' which the iolloiving is a speciii cation.

My invention relates to photographic shutter tripping mechanism and has 'for its object the production oit mechanism of this character through the medium of which a photographic shutter, such as a camera shutter, may be automatically tripped for operation at the expiration of a pre-determined interval so as to permit o'll the operator ci the camera or photographic device being included in the picture taken.

iii Yfurther object is the production ot shutter tripping mechanism, as mentioned, which vvill be or simple and economical construction and eilicient in operation. Other objects Will appear hereinafter.

rlfhe invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention Will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure l is a fragmentary front elevation oi2 the portion oi' a conventional camera containing the camera shutter and the operating mechanism therefor to vfhich is applied the tripping mechanism embodying my invention, the latter being shown in perspective, `llig. 2 is a. central longitudinal section of the shutter tripping mechanism, Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on substantially line m--f/J of Fig. 2, and Figs. 4; and 5 are sectional details of the opposite end portions oit the vliuid included in the construction, showing the valves cooperating with said bag.

Referring now to the drawing, l have illustrated therein the portion l of a conventional camera in vvhich is arranged the shutter mechanism. A pivoted shutter tripping lever is shown at 2, said lever being tilted to effect tripping oi the shutter through the medium of the plunger 3 which is mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder 3. Said plunger 3 is moved upwardly to effect rocking or tilting of the lever 2 Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

serial No. 698,505.

through the medium of a flexible wire d which projects through the loiver end of the cylinder 3 into engagement with said plunger, the arrangement being such that longitudinal movement of said ivire eiiiects operative movement ot said plunger. rl'he ilenible element ai is slidably mou L in a comparatively iii-m casing 5 -which prevents buckling oit element during operation thereof. The casing 5 is provided at one end with a spring clin G vvhich engages an enlarged head or nii 'T provided at the loiver end oi' the cylinder rEhe opposite end of member fl is provided ivithan en- "eriorly positioned head 8 adapted iior engagement in effecting longitudinal move ment oi' said member #l in tripping the camera shutter. A

Vlhe construction thus far described is old and u ell hnovvn, no claim being here made thereto, the mechanism.. ifor effecting depression ot the head S in order to move the member Ll to trip the shutter constituting the present invention, this mechanism being set torth in the following: rL liis mechanism comprises tube 9 v-:liich is open at one end for the reception of the head 8 of' the mem be 4;, such end of said tube being provided with engaging fingers l0 adapted to releasably embrace a l ead ll provided at the adjacent end of the casing 5 to hold the latter against relative longitudinal movement. Slidably mounted in the tube 9 is a plunger or piston l2 adapted ifor engagement vvith the l .d 8 and so that, when said plunger is moved in the tube 9 toivard the head 8,

depression oii the latter and hence longitudinal movement of the member f-l vvill be effected. Cooperating vvith the plunger l2 is a helical compression spring i3 which is interposed between said plunger and a plug 14.- secured in the opposite end oit the tube 9. The plunger l2 is carried at the inner end otl a stem l5, the opposite end o' the latter passing slidably through the plug ld and being pivotally connected at its outer end With a lever 16. rEhe lever 16 is adapted. when in inclined position7 as shown in VFigs. l and 2, to engage against tb" plug ll and bili thus serve to hold the stem l5 and hence the plunger l2 in operative position against the iniiuence of the spring the arrangement being such that, vvlien said lcv r is rocked into alineinent With the stem l5, the latter will be released so as to permit of the plunger 12 being moved by the spring 13 to actuate the member Il.

The lever 1G is releasably held in inclined or operative position through the medium of a collapsible fluid bag 17 preferably of rubber, said bag being mounted upon a supporting arm 13 which is fastened to one end of the tube 9 by screws 13, said screws serving also as a means of securing the plug 14 in position, a loop 19 engaging under the arm 18 adording means for securely fastening said bag upon said arm. The arrangement is such, as will be observed, that, when said bag is distended, the same will hold the lever 1G in operative position, collapse of said bag by reason of the exhaust of fluid therefrom, permitting of said lever rocking toward releasing position. This being so it will be seen that, in the operation of the device, the duration of the interval at he expiration of which the lever 1G will be released will depend upon the rapidity of exhaust of the fluid from the bag 17. One end of said bag 17 is provided with a mouth piece 2O for inlating the same, a disk valve 21 being provided at the inner end of said mouth piece which permits of admission of iuid to said bag, but preventing exhaust therefrom. At the opposite end of said bag is provided a valve for controlling the exhaust. r1`his valve comprises a. screw 22 which is threaded into a soclret or nipple 23 secured in said end of said bag, the bag being fastened to said nipple through the medium of a ferrule or cap 23. The screw 22 is provided in one side with a longitudinally extending tapering groove 24, which in use constitutes a Huid exhaust passage, the arrangement being such that the rapidity cf exhaust will be governed by the relative longitudinal position of the screw in the nipple 23, it being clear that the size of the exhaust aperture formed at the end of the member 23 by the groove 2.4 will depend upon the relative longitudinal position of the screw 22. A hand or indicator 25 is provided upon the head of screw 22 for cooperation with graduations 26 provided upon the outer surface of the member 23 for use in adjusting said screw to secure any desired duration of exhaust or collapse of the bag 17.

1n operating the device the stem 15 of the plunger 12 is first drawn back against the inliuence of spring 13 and held in this position through the inclination of the lever 1G, the latter being temporarily locked in inclined position through a. linl 27 pivotally connected to the outer end thereof, an ear 28 provided at the free end of the link 27 being adapted to engage the outer end of member 18 tc hold the lever 16 in inclined position, a notch 29 provided at the outer end of the member 18 being adapted to receive the link 27 for properly positioning the same. The head 8 of the shutter tripping mechanism l is then inserted into the outer end of the tube 9, said end of said tube being cut away at one side in order to perniit of ready insertion of the former, the end tion, permitting of the same to be rockedY toward releasing position as said bag collapses, il/l hen the bag is entirely collapsed and hence said lever positioned in alinement with the stem 15, the latter will be released and the plunger 12 moved by the spring 13 causing the tripping of the camera shutter. )3y reason of the adjustability of the exhaust valve, it is clear that the exhaust of the fluid from the bag 17 may be regulated so as to eflect the automatic tripping of the shutter after the expiration of any predetermined interval so as to permit of the operator being included in the picture if he so desires.

The device is simple and economical of construction and is positive and quick acting in its operation.

TWhile 1 have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modiiications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A photographic shutter trip comprising in combination a member adapted to trip the shutter; a slidable plunger adapted when released to operate said memberfa pivoted detent connected with said plunger and adapted when in inclined position to hold the latter against motion; and pneumatic means for releasably holding said detent in inclined position, substantially as described.

2. A photographic shutter trip comprising in combination with a depressible member adapted when depressed to trip the shutter, a tube; a plunger slidably mounted in said tube adapted when released from operative position to operate said depressible member; a pivoted detent connected with said plunger and adapted when in inclined position to hold the latter in operative position; and pneumatic means for releasably holding said detent in inclined position, substantially as described.

3. A photographic shutter trip comprising in combination with a depressible member adapted when depressed to trip the shutter, a tube; a plunger slidably mounted in said tube adapted When released from operative position to operate said depressible member; a pivoted detent connected With said plunger and adapted when in inclined position to hold the latter in operative position; a collapsible bag adapted when distended to releasably hold said detent inV inclined position, collapse of said bag permitting oi" rocking of said detent to releasing position; and means for controlling the exhaust of fluid from said bag, substantially as described.

A photographic shutter trip comprising in combination with a depressible member adapted when released to trip the shutter, a tube; a plunger slidably mounted in' said tube adapted when released from operatire. position to operate said depressible member; a lever pivotally connected with said plunge and adapted When in inclined position to hold the latter in operative position; a collapsible fluid bag mounted at one end of said tube and adapted When distended to releasably hold said lever in inclined position; collapse of said bag permitting of rocking or' said lever to releasing position; and means for controlling the exhaust of fluid from said bag, substantially as described.

5. i photographic shutter trip comprising in combination With a depressible member adapted when depressed to trip the shutter, and an elongated member adapted when moved longitudinally to operate said depressible member, said elongated member having a head adapted to be engaged for moving said member, a tube into one end of Which said head is adapted to be inserted, a spring pressed plunger slidably mounted in said tube adapted when released from operative position to engage said head and move said elongated member longitudinally; a pivoted detent connected with said plunger and adapted when in inclined position to hold the latter in operative position; collapsible pneumatic means for releasably holding said detent in inclined position, collapse or' said pneumatic means permitting oi' rocking of said detent to releasing position; and adjustable means for controlling the collapse of? said pneumatic means, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WLLIAM SYKES.

Witnesses:

R. R. VALsi-i, GEORGE l). GALLAHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

